A FORMER soccer player used a hidden tape recorder to snare a coach who had subjected him to years of sex attacks, a court heard.

The player, who cannot be named, claims his former coach, George Ormond, 46, subjected him to five years of abuse when he was a youngster.

Newcastle Crown Court heard how the alleged victim waited more than ten years before turning up at Mr Ormond's Newcastle home in December 2000 to confront him about his years of suffering.

He then handed over the recording to a close friend before finally contacting the police, the court was told.

The recording was played to the jury yesterday.

The 18-minute tape began with the alleged victim knocking on Mr Ormond's door and exchanging polite conversation.

The victim, now 38, told a jury how he was abused by Mr Ormond when the coach took him under his wing in 1975.

The 12-year-old was being tracked by scouts from many Divison One clubs.

He told the court how Mr Ormond told him he could further his career if he did what was asked of him, before allegedly beginning five years of systematic abuse.

Michael Hodson, prosecuting, told the court: "He made it clear to him that he held some connections with Newcastle and other clubs and could further his career if he did what he asked him to do."

During the recording, the victim questioned Mr Ormond about treatment rubs that ended in groping, to which Mr Ormond replied: "It was wrong, it was wrong, but which I apologise for."

He then went on to say: "I would have hoped you would not have told anyone about it. I honestly apologise."

Mr Ormond, from Newcastle, denies 15 charges of indecent assault relating to seven victims between 1975 and 1999. The trial continues